19. Imperial Russian War Planning For The Eurasian Space And The Impact Of The War

Abstract

The Russo-Japanese War was arguably the most important international event in the twenty years before World War I. British strategic foreign policy in the years from 1900 to 1907 was strongly influenced by the Russo-Japanese War. An examination of Britain's policies during this period in the light of the conflict does a number of things. From a purely British perspective, it demonstrates the close linkage between Britain's global, imperial concerns and her involvement in the European Great Power system. Two events - the Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion - underlined Britain's strategic difficulties. But the end of the Russo-Japanese War did not mark the end of the impact of the war either on Anglo-Russian relations or on the international situation generally. The Russo-Japanese War should be seen in its wider context, and as the most significant episode leading to World War I. Keywords: Anglo-Russian relations; Boer War; Boxer Rebellion; British strategic foreign policy; European Great Power system; Russo-Japanese War; World War I